Morton Hospital and Medical Center in Taunton has joined the growing list of hospitals limiting visitors in response to the rising number of H1N1 flu cases.

Under a policy enacted Wednesday at Morton, people younger than 18, including siblings and children of patients, will be restricted from visiting.

The recent rise in H1N1 cases, as well as concerns voiced by local and national health officials, prompted the policy change.

The changes are being put into place "to protect patients and visitors who are most at risk, and those who are caring for someone who is at risk," the hospital said in a statement.

Those groups include pregnant women, new mothers, fathers and guardians, household members and caregivers of infants. The hospital is taking several other precautionary measures, including asking anyone who is ill not to visit.

Any patient with a respiratory illness who goes to the emergency department or to the laboratory for tests is required to wear a mask and to disinfect their hands with antibacterial hand sanitizer.

The hospital is equipped with sanitizer dispensers throughout public areas and patient floors, and urges anyone who is visiting to sanitize hands prior to entering a patient room and before leaving.

For more information about the new policies, call 508-828-7195.

Morton joins Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro and Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtucket, which instituted similar changes in their visitor policies last week.

For the specifics of those institutions' visitor policies, go to the hospital Web sites at sturdymemorial.org and mhri.org.